The Bible Nerd

Evangelism isn’t Rocket Science. 
I am trying to remember how many approaches and strategies to evangelism that I have heard over the years. Maybe, I have heard almost as many evangelism strategies as I have new missions paradigms. When I was younger, I remember that friendship evangelism was big. Anyone still handing out Gospel tracts might as well have been from the Stone Age or pulling their white tube socks up. They were way out of touch with the new way to reach people. Then, that seemed to morph into using the arts and coffee bars. Or, even better, having artists play in coffee bars and then watch the harvest come in. My favorite was the ever so simple cardboard sign with “free prayer” written on it and displayed next to a lawn chair downtown.
Don’t get me wrong. I don’t have anything against any of those strategies for evangelism. “Friend” people for Jesus if that helps you reach the least, the last, and the lost. I was just impressed by something these last two Sundays at church. Two weeks ago, we had a baptism service where 5 people shared testimonies before celebrating a most public confession. Four of them mentioned one couple’s name specifically as being instrumental in their coming to faith. Then, this last week at church, we had a time to honor a couple who is moving to a new mission location after many years in our community and church. Here are some of the things people shared as they affirmed them:
“When my husband was dying from cancer, you came and sat by me and comforted me.”
“You opened your home every Sunday night to us and would always cook delicious food for us to eat.”
“You helped me train and even joined my triathlon team so that I could accomplish my dream.”
Even more impressive is that all of these things were said in one of the hardest languages to learn; a language that this couple never spoke until they moved to the mission field and started learning it so they could share the Gospel and get to know people.
I know that of Paul’s writings in the New Testament, both Romans and Galatians have some of the most difficult theological passages to interpret. However, it is what looks like a simple passage of application in Thessalonians that has been one of the most challenging to me personally.
1 Thessalonians 2:8
“So deeply do we care for you that we are determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you have become very dear to us.”
Paul says that they cared so deeply for the Thessalonians that they were determined to share “NOT ONLY” the Gospel with them, “BUT ALSO” our own selves. Sharing the Gospel to Paul was not simply a verbal proclamation only. It was more than helping the Thessalonians understand the one true God’s plan of redemption and rescue. Sharing the Gospel meant that Paul cared deeply for the lost; so deeply, that he ended up sharing his very self with them. What does that mean to share one’s self? Look back at the two couples that I spoke of above.
I wish I had not heard teachings on Christian counseling, because then I could continue in my content denial that I don’t want to get close to people sometimes because I don’t want to have my feelings hurt if things go south. I wish I could keep hiding behind all of my introverted justifications of not being “called” to be an evangelist or a “people” person. Unfortunately though, God keeps bringing this passage in Thessalonians back in front of my eyes so that I will be confronted with the ugly truth that I am a self-centered narcissist at heart. Dang. I am pretty sure the Bible gives us the sobering news that this heart malady is not unique in our human species.
Yet, if I am not interested in the lives of those I share the Gospel with, why should they be interested to hear me share the Gospel?
You see then that evangelism isn’t rocket science, but we do have to love people to the moon and back if it is going to truly show people Jesus.